POLE INTENDED TO BE USED AS TRAINING EQUIPMENT DURING WALKING

Abstract

A pole, intended to be used as training equipment during Nordic pole walking on a surface, includes an outer tube and an inner tube that can be displaced telescopically one inside the other, a handle at the top of the outer tube and a wrist attachment, a spring means that allows the inner tube to slide, under a pre-determined resistance to motion, inside the outer tube to a compressed condition when the pole makes contact with the surface. The spring means comprises an extended elastic element that is so united with the telescopically opposing ends of the outer tube and the inner tube that the elastic element is placed under tension in its tensile direction when the ends of the tubes of the outer tube and the inner tube are inserted one inside the other.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase patent application of PCT/SE2013/050001, filed on Jan. 3, 2013, which claims priority to Swedish Patent Application No. 1250091-4, filed on Feb. 8, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a pole intended to be used as training equipment, in particular training the upper body of a user, during what is commonly known as “Nordic pole walking” or “trekking pole walking”, according to the introduction to claim 1.

2. Description of the Related Arts

Poles of this type have long been known and are used during trekking on surfaces of varying nature, for example bare earth, snow or ice. The pole generally comprises an outer tube and an inner tube, which can be displaced telescopically one inside the other. A handle is positioned at the top of the outer tube, and a wrist attachment is arranged at this handle. A spring means that is arranged between the two telescopic tubes allows the inner tube, under a certain spring effect or shock-absorbing effect, to slide inside the outer tube when the pole impacts onto the surface. Common for known trekking poles is that they use conventional springs, normally metallic springs of spiral type, that generate their spring effect when the two telescopic tubes are displaced one inside the other. The shock-absorbing effect that the said springs offer is limited in that it solely contributes to increased comfort and a more constant load on the upper body of the user in which bumps and blows can be avoided, which means that joints and ligaments are subject to a lower load. One disadvantage of known poles that use springs is that they do not offer the resistance to motion that is desirable in order to achieve a more advanced training motion for the upper body, in which the muscles work through a significantly longer area of motion.

As has been mentioned above, one of the disadvantages of known trekking poles that use springs is that they have a limited area of motion for the spring effect (springs normally have a limited spring extent) and they require relatively complicated coupling means in order to hold together the two tubes that are components of the telescopic construction, one inside of the other, in a manner that limits motion. A rod is normally used, which extends through the centre of the spring and is connected between the outer and the inner tubes in a manner that allows sliding. See, for example EP 0 976 428 B1 and SE 522 840 C2, which known poles are limited in that they are simply “shock absorbing” poles.

As a stage in the further development of these poles, with respect not only to the weight of the poles but also to the manufacturing cost and a function to offer the desired resistance to motion for the user, it has been suggested that the tensile elasticity of extended elastic elements or, for example, rubber be used, instead of springs. It has become apparent that it is possible, by using the tensile elasticity of extended elastic elements, not only to achieve a shock-absorbing effect when the pole is placed in contact with a surface, but also to offer the user a continuous resistance to motion through a considerably larger area of motion, which resulted in that the pole can form particularly effective training equipment for the upper body of the user.

As a result of the tensile elasticity in the said elastic material it is possible to offer in a simple manner resistance to motion to the upper body of the user with an even load over a considerably larger area of motion, and it is possible to avoid the complicated mechanical retention arrangements with rods that have been described above in combination with springs, while the tensile elastic element in itself can offer the required tensioning force in order to hold together the two telescopic tube parts in the manner of a coupling means. Furthermore, elastic bands have the advantage that they are cheap and may offer, through simple tensioning means or quite simply through being prestressed to different degrees, different extents of spring characteristic. As a result of this, it is not necessary for manufacturers of trekking poles to hold in stock springs of differing spring characteristic. In addition to this, elastic bands have acoustic advantages in that they are, in principle, totally silent, and the elastomeric material has the advantage that it is deformed while demonstrating a linear spring characteristic with a certain degree of integral hysteresis, or delay, which gives a damping effect that means that the expression of the resistance of the pole to the user is constant and smooth. By replacing the previously used springs and mechanical retention constructions with extended elastic elements, the weight of the pole can be considerably reduced while at the same time a simple, reliable and constructive design of the spring arrangement is obtained.

A pole-like training arrangement of telescopic type that uses the tensile elasticity of an extended elastic body, such as an elastic band, is revealed by SE 532 108. The pole has an outer tube and an inner tube, whereby the outer tube has a handle with an associated wrist strap. The extended elastic body is connected between the ends of the outer tube that face away from each other (the handle) and the inner tube. As a result of the attachment points of the elastic body with the pole, which lie a significant distance from each other, the elastic element extends essentially along the complete length of the pole, which not only means that the elastic element constitutes a bulky and—from an aesthetic point of view—ugly part of the pole in its entirety, but also introduces difficulties in achieving the desired resistance to motion between the two telescopic tubes without supplementary mechanical components, which include, for example, breaker wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first purpose of the present invention, therefore, is to achieve a pole that not only has a shock-absorbing effect, but also offers in a simple, elegant and efficient manner the resistance to motion that is desirable in order to achieve a more advanced training motion for the upper body, in which the muscles work through a significantly larger area of motion. A second purpose of the invention is to achieve a pole that demonstrates a simple, reliable and constructive design and that overcomes the disadvantages with which prior art arrangements have been associated.

These two purposes of the invention are achieved through the pole being given the features and characteristics that are specified in claim 1.

The insight that forms the basis of the invention is that a combination of continuous resistance to motion for efficient training and a discrete integration of an extended elastic element that operates between the telescopic outer and inner tube tubes can be obtained only through the extended elastic element being arranged to operate in opposing or neighbouring parts of the telescopically controlled parts of the outer tube and inner tube.

With a pole such as that defined in the claims, not only is a shock-absorbing effect obtained when the pole is placed in contact with a surface, but also a pole is achieved that offers the user a continuous resistance to motion through a significant area of motion, with the result that the pole can be used as more efficient training equipment for the upper body of the user than has been possible with prior art arrangements.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the extended elastic element comprises an elastic band of, for example, rubber that operates between opposing parts of the telescopically active parts of the outer tube and inner tube.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the extended elastic element is constituted by a tubular element that operates between the opposing ends of the telescopic tubes through a carrier that protrudes from one of the tubes, which carrier extends through the tubular element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an individual carrying out what is known as “Nordic pole walking” with a pole according to the present invention,

FIGS. 2a-2c show a series of longitudinal sections of different parts, in particular neighbouring parts of telescopically active parts of a pole in a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of neighbouring parts of telescopically active parts of a pole in a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a person who, while training, uses a pair of poles according to the present invention, whereby the user is undertaking what is known as “Nordic pole walking”. The poles are thus at an inclined angle backwards and, while the user carries out oscillating movement of the arms, the poles are placed down onto the surface just behind the relevant forward foot, whereby the user walks forwards. Each pole consists in principle of four main parts, which include an upper outer tube 1, a lower inner tube 2 that can be telescopically inserted into a lower part of the outer tube, a pole handle 3 and a wrist attachment 4 at the upper free end of the outer tube 1, together with a tip 5 arranged at the lower free end of the inner tube 2. The outer tube 1 of the pole with its handle 3 and the inner tube 2 with its said tip 5 are approximately of equal lengths.

FIGS. 2a-2c show the component parts of the pole in more detail and, as the drawing makes clear, the lower end of the outer tube 1 demonstrates an end fitting 10 that at the same time forms a guide for the telescopic reception of the upper end part of the inner tube 2 through interaction with its peripheral outer surface. The said end fitting 10 is mounted at the lower end of the outer tube 1 by, for example, gluing. The upper end part of the inner tube 2 is arranged such that when the tip 5 of the pole is placed in contact with a surface it is displaced a certain distance from below into the lower end part of the outer tube 1, for interaction with an extended elastic element, generally denoted by reference number 12. The said extended elastic element 12 is housed in a discrete manner and is active between the two end parts of the tubes 1, 2 that meet telescopically, in order to form resistance to motion between the said telescopic parts when the tip of the pole 5 comes into contact with a surface. The external diameter of the inner tube 2 is so adapted to the internal diameter of the outer tube 1 that the upper end part of the inner tube can be displaced into the lower end part of the outer tube 1. A means 14 of limiting motion allows the two opposing ends of the tubes to be inserted telescopically one inside the other while at the same time preventing the upper end of the inner tube 2 from sliding in an uncontrolled manner out from the lower end part of the outer tube 1 and thus out from telescopic interaction with it. This means 14 of limiting motion comprises a stop screw 15 arranged in the end fitting 10. The stop screw 15 extends through a drilled hole 16 that is directed radially in towards the centre of the tube and it has its forward tip a certain distance inside a ring-shaped gap 18 that is limited between the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2. The forward tip 17 of the stop screw 15 is thus located in the said gap 18 and, as a result, the inner tube 2 is prevented from sliding out from the outer tube 1 through interaction with the tip 17 of the stop screw 15 and a piston 19 arranged at the upper end of the inner tube 2.

In order for it to be possible to use the pole as efficient training equipment, it is important that the length of the pole can be adapted to the height of the user. The recommended length of a pole of this type is normally approximately 70-80% of the user's height. The length of the pole can be adjusted, and for this purpose the lower inner tube 2 consists of two pieces of tube 2a, 2b (an upper and a lower) that can be telescopically displaced one inside the other (see FIG. 2c).

As FIG. 2c also makes clear, a telescopic lock 20 is mounted at the upper end of the lower part 2b of the said telescopic pieces of tube 2a, 2b. This type of telescopic lock 20 consists of a telescopic sheath 21 that is arranged such that it can be extended under tension with the aid of a wedge (not shown in the drawings, but located under the telescopic sheath) that can be turned into and out of the telescopic sheath 21 with the aid of a threaded shaft 22 that is attached at the upper end of the lower piece of tube 2b. An end fitting 23, similar to that described above, prevents the lower piece of tube 2b from sliding in an uncontrolled manner out from the lower end of the upper piece of tube 2a.

With reference to FIG. 2b, and has been mentioned in the introduction, it is important that the extended elastic element 12 can be taken up into and integrated in a discrete manner between the opposing parts or ends of the telescopic outer tube 1 and inner tube 2 that have been inserted one inside the other, without the ability to absorb significant telescopic movement between the two interacting ends of the tubes being limited. The extended elastic element 12 comprises thus an elastic band of rubber that is placed under tension (during which energy is stored) and forms resistance to motion when the end of the outer tube 1 and the end of the inner tube 2, which are placed one inside the other, are displaced one into the other, as is illustrated by the opposing arrows A-A in FIG. 2b. As has been mentioned above, a ring-shaped compartment 18 is limited between the opposing and telescopically active end parts of the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2. The extended elastic element 12 extends through the ring-shaped compartment 18 and is active between the said telescopically opposing tubes 1, 2 with an end 12a, 12b, respectively, and a part 12c. A first attachment means 25a for one end of the elastic element 12 is arranged at the end fitting 10 that is mounted externally at the lower end of the outer tube 1. The end fitting 10 demonstrates a channel 26 that leads in to a compartment 27 in the end fitting, in which the said first attachment means 25a is arranged. A corresponding attachment means 25b for the second end 12b of the elastic element is arranged in the diametrically opposing side of the end fitting 10.

The extended elastic element 12 is drawn with a part 12c over an upper end part of the inner tube 2, which has been inserted into the lower end part of the outer tube 1 in order to achieve a telescopic effect. Each one of the two attachment means 12a, 12b comprises a combination of a tongue 28 arranged in the compartment 27 of the end fitting 10 and a removable yoke-shaped clamp 29 that can be led down over the tongue such that the clamp enters into locking interaction with one end 12a of the elastic element 12 that has been drawn over the tongue. The extended elastic element 12 runs in a controlled manner with the said part 12c over the upper end of the inner tube 2 in an attachment means 25c that is designed as a channel placed under the piston 19. In order to offer a gentle and silent walk, the piston 19 can comprise a relatively soft material with low friction, for example felt. The piston 19 is attached at the upper end of the inner tube 2 through a piece of rubber 31 that is placed inside the tube. A threaded tube insert 32 of metal and a screw 33 that interacts with this are integrated into the piece of rubber 31. The piston 19 forms a guide for the forward end of the inner tube 2. In the embodiment shown, the extended elastic element 12 is of band type and it has the said part 12c running over the upper end of the inner tube 2 and onwards down on the diametrically opposing side of the telescopic upper end part of the inner tube 2. It should be realised that it would be possible to equip the pole with a freely chosen number (n) of elastic elements 12, depending on the resistance to motion that is desired.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, whereby the extended elastic band-shaped element described above has been replaced by an elastic tubular element 40, which is so attached in the opposing ends of the telescopic tubes 1, 2 through first and second attachment means 41, 42 that the elastic tubular element 40 offers resistance to opposing for the user when the tip 5 of the pole is placed into contact with a surface. A first piston 45, which may comprise felt, is attached at the free end of an extended carrier 46 designed as a rod, whose second end is fixed a certain distance into the outer tube 1 by attachment means 48 that are fixed by screws 47 such that the carrier 46, protruding from the lower end of the outer tube 1, extends coaxially to the two telescopic tubes 1, 2 of the pole. A second piston 48, which also may comprise felt, is attached at the upper end of the inner tube 2, which second piston 48 demonstrates at its centre an axial drilled hole 49 through which the carrier 46 runs when the two tube parts 1, 2 move telescopically. The second piston 48, which is supported by the inner tube 2, is intended to slide inside the lower end of the outer tube 1, while the first piston 45, which is supported by the carrier 46, is intended to slide inside the upper end of the inner tube 2. The elastic tubular element 40 is attached at the ends 12a, 12b in the said first 45 and second piston 48 in such a manner that the tubular element extends coaxially between the two tube ends 1, 2, which run telescopically one inside the other, and offers resistance to motion for the user when the tip 5 of the pole comes into contact with a surface. Thus, a certain portion of the carrier 46 extends along the central part of the elastic tubular element 12.

As a careful study of FIG. 3 will show, a compartment 49 with the form of a ring-shaped gap is limited between the carrier 46 of the outer tube 1 and the inner surface of the inner tube 2. The elastic tubular element 12 can move in this ring-shaped compartment 49 (it can be placed under tension and released from tension) between the opposing ends of the telescopic tubes 1, 2 and can thus offer resistance to motion when the telescopic tubes 1, 2 are pressed together, such as when the tip 5 of the pole is placed in contact with a surface, which is to say, when the inner tube 2 moves a certain distance from below up into the lower end part of the outer tube 1 as a result of an impact against the surface. The latter condition, in which the telescopic ends of the outer tube 1 and the inner tube 2, which are telescopically mounted one inside the other, are displaced one into the other and the elastic tubular element 12 is extended or placed under tension, is illustrated by the opposing arrows A-A in FIG. 3.

The invention is not limited to that which has been described above and shown in the drawings: it can be changed and modified in several different ways within the scope of the innovative concept defined by the attached patent claims.

Claims

1. A pole, intended to be used as training equipment when carrying out Nordic pole walking on a surface, comprising:

an outer tube and an inner tube that can be displaced telescopically one inside the other,

a handle at the top of the outer tube and a wrist attachment,

a spring member that allows the inner tube, under a pre-determined degree of resistance to motion, to slide inside the outer tube towards a compressed condition when the pole makes contact with the surface,

wherein the spring member comprises an extended elastic element that is united with the telescopically opposing parts of the ends of the outer tube and the inner tube in such a manner that the elastic element is placed under tension in its tensile direction when the ends of the outer tube and the inner tube, which are inserted one inside the other, are displaced one inside the other.

2. The pole according to claim 1, whereby the telescopically opposing end parts of the outer tube and the inner tube limit between them a ring-shaped compartment in which the elastic element extends in the axial direction of the pole, between the opposing ends of the tube parts.

3. The pole according to claim 1, further comprising first and second attachment means members that are arranged on diametrically opposing sides of the outer surface of the outer tube and form attachment points for a first and a second end of the elastic element; and another attachment member arranged at the upper tube end of the inner tube with a channel, through which the elastic element can run with one part over the upper tube end of the inner tube.

4. The pole according to claim 3, whereby each of the first and second attachment members forms part of an end fitting attached at the lower end of the outer tube that at the same time forms, with a ring-shaped opening, a guide for the sliding telescopic reception of the inner tube.

5. The pole according to claim 1, whereby the telescopically inserted upper tube end of the inner tube is provided with a piston, which comprises felt.

6. The pole according to claim 5, further comprising a member of limiting motion that through interaction with the piston prevents the upper end of the inner tube from sliding in an uncontrolled manner out from the lower end part of the outer tube and thus out from telescopic interaction with it.

7. The pole according to claim 6, whereby the member of limiting motion comprises a stop screw that is arranged to protrude a certain distance into the ring-shaped compartment in order to interact with the piston.

8. The pole according to claim 1, whereby the extended elastic element comprises a tubular elastic element that extends in the axial direction of the pole between a first piston, that runs inside the inner tube and is attached at the free end of a carrier that protrudes from the outer tube, and a second piston that runs inside the outer tube and is attached at the telescopically active upper end of the inner tube, and in that the said carrier runs through an axial drilled hole in the said second piston.

9. A pole according to claim 8, whereby the carrier comprises a rod that is fixed a certain distance into the outer tube by an attachment member such that the carrier, protruding from the lower end of the outer tube, extends coaxially through the two telescopically active parts of the outer tube and the inner tube.

10. The pole according to claim 1, whereby the inner tube comprises upper and lower pieces of tube that can be telescopically inserted one in the other and which, with the aid of a telescopic lock arranged between the telescopic ends of the tubes, can be locked set at the desired length.